[ LETTER ]

Published: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 12:00 a.m.

A bill filed in the Florida Senate (SB 612) makes it a felony offense for nurses to use the title doctor if they do not immediately declare that they are not a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy. No other health care professionals are affected by this bill. Not chiropractors, podiatrists, optometrists, psychologists, audiologists or pharmacists.

This is a direct assault on advanced-practice nurses (nurse practitioners and midwives) who earn doctorate degrees.

Florida already has a law that prohibits a person from intentionally misleading the public to believe he or she is a physician. The penalty is a first-degree misdemeanor. SB 612 increases the penalty — only for nurses — to a third-degree felony.

Any person, health care professional or otherwise, who earns a doctorate degree earns the right to be called doctor. This includes a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy degree.

Florida's Medical Practice Act protects the title physician for an MD or DO who earns the required education credentials and then successfully passes licensure requirements. A person with an MD or DO degree who gives medical care but is not licensed by Florida's Board of Medicine is impersonating a physician.

Florida has a crucial shortage of primary-care physicians. Advanced practice nurses have the education and experience to fill the gap so that every person has access to affordable care.

Don't you think that instead of spending time on acts of oppression and discrimination that physicians should spend more time taking care of patients or working on solutions to the health care crisis? I do.

<p>A bill filed in the Florida Senate (SB 612) makes it a felony offense for nurses to use the title doctor if they do not immediately declare that they are not a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy. No other health care professionals are affected by this bill. Not chiropractors, podiatrists, optometrists, psychologists, audiologists or pharmacists.</p><p>This is a direct assault on advanced-practice nurses (nurse practitioners and midwives) who earn doctorate degrees.</p><p>Florida already has a law that prohibits a person from intentionally misleading the public to believe he or she is a physician. The penalty is a first-degree misdemeanor. SB 612 increases the penalty — only for nurses — to a third-degree felony.</p><p>Any person, health care professional or otherwise, who earns a doctorate degree earns the right to be called doctor. This includes a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy degree.</p><p>Florida's Medical Practice Act protects the title physician for an MD or DO who earns the required education credentials and then successfully passes licensure requirements. A person with an MD or DO degree who gives medical care but is not licensed by Florida's Board of Medicine is impersonating a physician.</p><p>Florida has a crucial shortage of primary-care physicians. Advanced practice nurses have the education and experience to fill the gap so that every person has access to affordable care.</p><p>Don't you think that instead of spending time on acts of oppression and discrimination that physicians should spend more time taking care of patients or working on solutions to the health care crisis? I do.</p><p>MAVRA KEAR, Ph.D., ARNP, BC</p><p>President</p><p>Florida Nurses Association </p><p>Lakeland</p>